What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the highest household income ($62k).

Machias has the shortest commute (16 min average).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Madison	Machias
People
Population	2,676Highest	2,020Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.9±12.3Highest about the ME average	40.8±9.6Lowest 9% below ME
	Madison and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	15.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Machias and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±7.5Highest ME: 22.4%	20.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Madison and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	16%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	12.7%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,698±$20kHighest 17% below ME	$34,375±$16kLowest 54% below ME
	Madison and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$163,900±$59kHighest 45% below ME	$141,300±$17kLowest 52% below ME
	Madison and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$218Highest 25% below ME	$692±$276Lowest 39% below ME
	Madison and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,740Lowest 43% below ME	$1,885Highest 38% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	58.9%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	13%Lowest ME: 10.7%	25.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	49.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME	1971Highest 6 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 25% above ME	16 minLowest 33% below ME
Work from home	21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9%	12.7%±9.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Madison and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Machias Public Schools
High school in town	—	Machias Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.